The Scottish Labour leader said his party had a 'presumption against any increases to income tax'.
Anas Sarwar has warned the Scottish Government against raising income taxes as current rates were already "hammering" families struggling with the cost of living.Humza Yousaf has hinted his government could focus tax rises on the country's wealthiest households to help fund policies aimed at reducing poverty.
Sarwar, speaking at a meeting of business leaders in Glasgow today, said his party was "unashamedly a pro-business and pro-growth party".Scots earning more than £28,000 already pay more income tax than those in England. An intermediate rate of 21 per cent is paid on salaries of between £25,689 and £43,662. Sarwar said: "I think income tax has been used as the substitute for economic growth, and it's actually choking off opportunity and actually hammering families in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. "He seems to believe, our First Minister, that someone earning over £24,000 a year is somehow well off and therefore should pay higher taxes. You ask families across the country that are on £24,000. "They don't feel very well off. They're struggling to pay their mortgages. Mortages have gone up because of Tory economic chaos. "They're struggling to pay their energy bills, they're struggling to pay their food bills, and now they're getting hit with a potential of a council tax increase of over £700 as well."So we have a presumption against any increases to income tax, and we instead want the Scottish Government to focus relentlessly on economic growth to increase the size of the cake and to then make those strategic investments so we can deliver social reform here in Scotland." During his speech to business leaders, Sarwar also accused the SNP of being "more obsessed about saltires in Scottish supermarkets than it is about saltires on seafood counters in France or on tourism adverts in Germany"."Our ambition is much greater than that. We want to showcase what we have to offer to a bigger, worldwide audience. "To capitalise on Scotland’s unique identify as a global USP to promote Scottish exports and attract tourism and investment."To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
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